How to Insure a Car That Is Rarely Driven
A rarely driven car still needs a policy, but how much coverage it needs depends on whether it moves at all.
You still need to insure it, but you may have options on how much
If the car is ever driven, even occasionally, it needs the same liability coverage any car on the road needs. Insurance doesn't scale down because you drive less. What changes is what else makes sense to carry.
If the car never leaves the driveway or garage, some insurers offer a reduced policy that covers damage, theft, and fire but drops the coverage that only applies when a car is being driven. Whether that's available, and what it's called, depends on the insurer. Ask them directly what they offer for a car that isn't driven.
Whether the car ever moves at all
There's a real difference between a car driven once a month and a car that never leaves its spot. If it's driven at all, even rarely, it can still cause an accident, so it needs liability coverage like any other insured car.
If it truly doesn't move, some insurers let you switch to a policy that only covers the car itself, for things like theft, fire, vandalism, or a tree falling on it. This is sometimes called storage coverage or a comprehensive-only policy. It's usually cheaper, but you give up any coverage for driving it, even around the block.
If you switch to this kind of policy, find out from your insurer what happens if you do drive it, even once. Some will require you to notify them first and reinstate full coverage before you do, not after.
If the car sits in a garage, that also may matter to the insurer when it comes to theft or weather risk. Tell them where it's kept.
Whether it's registered and where it's parked
Most states require a car to be insured as long as it's registered, whether or not it's ever driven. If you want to stop insuring it, the usual path is to also take it off the road entirely by filing for non-operation status with your state's motor vehicle agency. The rules and the name for this vary by state, so check with your state's DMV or equivalent.
If the car is parked on the street rather than in a garage or driveway, that changes the risk an insurer sees, and it may affect what reduced coverage they're willing to offer. A street-parked car is harder to protect from theft or damage, so don't assume the same low-cost option applies.
If you're helping a parent with this, check whether the car is still registered in their name and at their address. A lapse in registration or a mismatch can complicate things when you're trying to adjust the coverage.
Questions people ask about this
Can I cancel car insurance if I'm not driving the car?
You can, but only if the car is also taken off the road through your state's DMV or equivalent agency. Insuring a registered car is usually required regardless of how often it's driven. Check with your state on what's needed to formally take a car off the road.
What is storage insurance for a car?
It's a reduced policy that covers a parked car for things like theft, fire, or weather damage, without covering it while being driven. Not all insurers offer this, and it goes by different names. Ask your insurer whether they have something like this and what it excludes.
Does a low-mileage car qualify for a discount?
Many insurers offer a discount for driving under a certain number of miles a year, separate from not driving at all. This is different from storage coverage, since the car is still insured to be driven. Ask your insurer how they track or verify mileage for this.
What happens if I drive a car that only has storage coverage?
If the car is in an accident while being driven and only has storage or comprehensive-only coverage, there may be no coverage for the accident itself. Contact your insurer before driving it again so they can reinstate full coverage first, not after something happens.
Do I need to tell my insurer if a car just sits in the garage?
Yes, because the coverage that makes sense for a parked car is different from a car in regular use. Your insurer can't offer you the right policy if they think the car is being driven normally. Call them and describe exactly how the car is used and stored.
See what a policy built for a car that barely moves would actually cost you.
Call your insurer and describe exactly how the car is used, whether it's driven at all, and where it's parked. Ask specifically whether they offer a reduced policy for a car that's stored rather than driven, and what that would and wouldn't cover. If you want to stop insuring it entirely, ask your state's DMV what's required to take it off the road, since insurance is usually tied to registration. Have the registration and current policy details on hand before you call. If a parent owns the car, make sure the registration and policy are still accurate for their current address and situation.
